This bottle is a perfume flask, probably used to
contain rose water. It has a globular body, a
splayed cylindrical foot, an almost flat shoulder,
a narrow neck and a tall straight mouth. Around
the mouth are six-bosses. These knobs, which
are moulded on the upper cylindrical rim, are
reminiscent of Sassanian-style silver ware. A
vegetal scroll is incised on the foot of the bottle.
The body consists of six rectangular cartouches
depicting birds between six medallions depicting
foliage motifs.
The form is among one of the many found in
Transoxania during the Early Islamic period. Its
origin appears to be the common Sassanian
silver bottle, of which examples are to be found
in Perm, Baku and Kharkov. Very often these
vessels have bosses around the neck, as in this
case, although here the neck is embellished with
a row of key-frets.
This bottle was probably made of high-tin
bronze – an alloy of copper and about 20 per
cent tin. This alloy was known in early Islamic
times as asfidroy, literally “white copper” and
was used for bowls, stem bowls, dishes, ewers
and candlesticks.
The quality of engraving and the patterns
featured
on this water sprinkler, would seem to indicate a
12th – 13th centuries dating and possibly a
Transoxania provenance.
